Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

The effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) on lactate dehydrogenase and fatigue index in obese women following eccentric and concentric exercise

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Asma Soleimani 1
Mahtab Najafi 2
Maryam Naghibzadeh 3

1 PhD in Exercise Physiology, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22122/jeoct.2025.525469.1153
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of 4-week Zingiber officinale (ginger) supplementation (1 g/day) on serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) dynamics and fatigue perception in obese women (BMI >30 kg/m²; n=50) following acute eccentric and concentric exercise. Participants were stratified by VO₂max and allocated to: ginger+eccentric (G+E), ginger+concentric (G+C), placebo+eccentric (P+E), placebo+concentric (P+C), or control (no intervention). Following supplementation, participants completed treadmill-based eccentric (-10% to -15% incline) or concentric (+10% to +15% incline) protocols to volitional exhaustion. Fasted venous blood samples quantified serum LDH; fatigue was assessed via Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). ANCOVA with baseline adjustment revealed: Significant LDH elevation post-exercise (η²=0.62, P<0.001), with eccentric > concentric (Δ28.3±6.2 vs. Δ18.5±5.9 U/L; P=0.008). Ginger attenuated LDH vs. placebo (mean reduction: -21.8 U/L, 95% CI: -30.1 to -13.5; P<0.001, η²=0.42), particularly after eccentric exercise (G+E vs. P+E: -24.7 U/L, P=0.002). Non-significant FSS increase overall (η²=0.09, P=0.12), though ginger reduced FSS elevation by 41% vs. placebo (Δ8.7±3.9 vs. Δ14.8±5.2; P=0.07), with strongest attenuation in G+E (-9.3 units; P=0.052). Four-week ginger supplementation significantly mitigates exercise-induced LDH release in obese women, indicating cytoprotective effects against muscular stress. While fatigue modulation was statistically non-significant, clinically relevant attenuation trends suggest potential ergogenic benefits requiring further investigation.

What is already known on this subject?

  • Vigorous physical exercise causes increased LDH and fatigue.
  • Ginger has fatigue-reducing property.
  • Ginger may help alleviate production of LDH.
  • Ginger can improve energy levels and reduce fatigue by managing blood sugar levels and increasing circulation

 

What this study adds?

4-week Zingiber officinale supplementation (1 g/day) significantly attenuates serum LDH elevation induced by acute eccentric and concentric exercise in obese women.

Keywords

Zingiber officinale
Lactate dehydrogenase
Exercise fatigue
Eccentric exercise
Concentric exercise
Obesity

Subjects

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank and appreciate all those who collaborated in carrying out the research.

Funding

No funding was received.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval The ethical code of this research was ir.medilam.rec.1395.199 taken from Medical Sciences Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

Informed consent All participants signed a written informed consent form that was approved by the ethical committee.

Author contributions

Conceptualization: A.S, M.N.; Methodology: A.S, M.N.; Software: A.S, M.NJ, M.N; Validation: A.S,M.N; Formal analysis: A.S, M.N; Investigation: A.S,M.N; Resources: A.S, M.N.; Data curation: A.S.; Writing- original draft A.S, M.N.; Writing - review & editing: A.S, M.NJ, M.N.; Visualization: A.S,M.N.; Supervision: A.S, M.NJ; Project administration: A.S, M.NJ,MN; Funding acquisition: A.S,M.NJ.

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Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 13-18

  • Receive Date 22 January 2025
  • Revise Date 03 March 2025
  • Accept Date 04 March 2025

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